10-10/11 :: October/November 2010

nanotimes News in Brief

An illustration of the synergistic effect of metal/N-hetero- cyclic carbene in CO2 utilization. © Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (IBN) in Singapore

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technology for the large-scale synthesis of industrial chemicals from carbon dioxide.

“Our research is focused on converting sustainable resources such as carbon dioxide into useful pharma- ceuticals through environmentally benign processes,” shares IBN Team Leader and Principal Research Sci- entist Dr Yugen Zhang, who led this research effort.

According to Professor Jackie Y. Ying, IBN Executive Director, “The vision of our green synthesis platform

is to develop inexpensive and safe pharmaceuticals and specialty chemicals. This breakthrough marks a significant advancement in sustainable technologies of interest to the pharmaceuticals and fine chemicals industries. It helps to position IBN and Singapore at the forefront of green chemistry research.”

D. Yu and Y. Zhang: Copper and Copper–NHC Cataly- zed C–H Activating Carboxylation of Terminal Alkynes with CO2 at Ambient Conditions, In: PNAS Early Edition, November 8, 2010, DOI:10.1073/pnas.1010962107: http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1010962107

http://www.ibn.a-star.edu.sg